Blast breakdown

After finishing work, Kau returned to pick up sparklers and fountains for the kids, adding to the thousands of firecrackers he had already bought.

While residents steadily bought up fireworks on the first day of sales yesterday, city officials said sales of firework permits have fallen and are heading for at least a two-year low.

"Big drop," said Eric Kimura, assistant chief of the Satellite City Hall Division of the Department of Customer Services. "I think it's because of the popularity of the newer version, the paperless firecracker. That way you don't need permits."

Permits cost $25 and are required for regular firecrackers. They are good for up to 5,000 firecrackers, and an unlimited number of permits can be purchased. Novelty fireworks, including paperless fireworks and fountains, can be bought without a permit.

By Monday, Honolulu residents had bought 3,546 permits this year, down from 5,001 at the same time last year. At the end of 2006, a little more than 10,000 permits were sold.

"Looks like its going to be less than 10,000," Kimura said. "It's going to drop from last year."